High-ups' remarks on Limon protested

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a component of ruling Awami League-led grand alliance, yesterday protested the statements of government high-ups regarding Limon Hossain, who was shot to disability by Rapid Action Battalion.

In a statement, JSD Executive President Mainuddin Khan Badal, and General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia said the recent remarks on Limon by the prime minister's defence adviser, the home minister, and the director general of Rab is unfortunate as the high-ups said Limon and his father are involved in a "criminal gang".

They also demanded removal of the cases filed against Limon, and urged the government to ensure his proper treatment.

On Thursday at a press conference with a selected group of reporters, Prime Minister's Defence Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique claimed that both Limon, whose left leg was amputated after a Rab team shot him on March 23, and his father are members of a criminal gang.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun on Sunday defended Tarique Ahmed, saying his remark on Limon is a government statement. Rab yesterday echoed the statement of Tarique Ahmed that Limon has "criminal link".

However, on April 11, Rab Director General Mokhlesur Rahman admitted that Limon Hossain is not a notorious criminal.

The JSD leaders said while a government probe into the incident is going on, the remarks of the prime minister's defence adviser did not only influenced the investigation process, but also it will inspire the perpetrators.

They also condemned the diatribe against the media by the government high-ups. Tarique Ahmed in the press conference criticised some newspapers' role on the issue.

"When all the people of the country want investigation and punishment for incidents of extra-judicial killings and torture by law enforcement agencies, the statements of the prime minister's adviser has created frustration and anger among the people," the JSD leaders said in the statement.

They said the government should remove the persons who are using administrative power to impede the investigation process.

On Saturday another component of the grand-alliance, Workers Party, condemned the statement of the prime minister's defence adviser terming his statement as unfortunate.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

5 'robbers' held after gunfight

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested five suspected robbers, four of them with bullet wounds, after a gunfight at Mohakhali in the capital Sunday night.

Rab-2 officials said they also recovered three foreign-made firearms, two pistols and a revolver, 16 bullets and four cocktails from their possession.

Bullet injured Montu Mian, 22, and Mohammad Farid, 23, of Sherpur district, Chandan Burman, 25, of Netrokona, and Mohammad Rajib, 21, of Shariatpur district were admitted to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) under police custody.

Another suspected robber Mohammad Ali Jibon, who was arrested unhurt, was handed over to police.

Major Ershadul Haque of Rab-2 said they, acting on a tip-off, raided a tin-roofed house at Arjatpara where the robbers were making preparation for committing a robbery at around 8:15pm.

Sensing their presence, the robbers opened fire on the Rab men, prompting them to retaliate with bullets.

Rab officials said all the detainees were garment workers and lived in Tongi and Savar areas.

Meanwhile, the Rab did not allow journalists to talk to the alleged robbers.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Ctg Arms Haul: CID grills Rezzakul, Rahim

Investigators yesterday interrogated two former National Security Intelligence (NSI) directors general at Chittagong Central Jail gate in connection with the 10-truck arms haul cases.

Investigation officer of the cases Md Muniruzzaman Chowdhury, also a senior assistant superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department, quizzed Brig Gen (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury and Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim. Two other CID officials assisted him in the three-hour long interrogation that began around 12:30pm.

The IO declined to make any comment on the outcome of the grilling.

Muniruzzaman moved a petition on April 12 before a Chittagong court for quizzing the duo.

Former Directorate General of Forces' Intelligence DG Maj Gen (retd) Sadik Hasan Rumi on April 13 stated to the court that Rezzakul was involved in smuggling of the arms cache.

The court on April 17 directed the authorities concerned to interrogate them at jail gate.

Police seized 10 truckloads of weapons and ammunition from the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd on the night of April 1 in 2004.

Later they filed two cases -- one under the arms act and another for smuggling.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Rangamati Killings: UPDF enforces road, river blockade

At least one person was bullet-hit during yesterday's dawn-to-dusk road and waterway blockade in Rangamati called by United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) protesting the killing of its four members on Saturday.

Pervez Alam, a passenger in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, was injured when unknown criminals opened fire from a roadside bush in Shalbaga area, some twenty-five km off Rangamati.

Alam, 20, of Chandanaish village in Chittagong, was hit in the leg and was admitted to Rangamati General Hospital.

An auto-rickshaw driver was wounded as pickets beat him at Moghachhari on the Chittagong-Rangamati road around 10:00am, Kawkhali police said.

All kinds of vehicular movement on the road and waterways were closed during the day-long blockade.

Around 9:00am, a running battle erupted between members of UPDF and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), a pro-peace treaty body, at Moghachhari when a group of PCJSS supporters came out on the road with their bikes.

Pickets also smashed a bike at Kutukchhari Bazar around noon.

The UPDF, which opposes the peace deal in the hills, held a rally at Jurachhari protesting the gun attack on its members at Naraichhari under Barkal upazila.

Four of its members were killed in the attack allegedly orchestrated by PCJSS. PCJSS, however, denied the allegation.

So far police recovered three bodies while the body of Pulok Jibon Chakma is yet to be found.

No case was filed in connection with the Saturday's incident, said Iddris Ali, sub-inspector of Barkal Police Station.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Govt eyes 27pc more revenue next FY

The government may set the target of total revenue earning at Tk 1,18,380 crore in the national budget for the next fiscal year, which is 27 percent higher than that in the present budget.

Revenue earning target in the present budget is 17 percent higher than in the budget for the previous FY (2009-10).

The share of income tax is 28.93 per cent in the earning by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in the current FY, and it will be 29.81 percent in the next budget.

The target of earning from income tax in the next budget will be 37 percent higher than in the present budget.

NBR sources said no new tax will be imposed for raising revenue earning. This will be done through various new initiatives and by limiting the scope of tax evasion.

Besides, the present upward trend of inflation will also contribute to higher revenue collection.

The NBR at a meeting with the prime minister last month presented its plan for increased revenue earning.

In its plan, the NBR said direct or income tax in the next budget will be increased to 29.81 percent of the total NBR earning compared to 27.47 percent in FY 2009-10.

Moreover, Value Added Tax (Vat) will be increased by about 0.70 percentage point to 35.77 percent of the total revenue. But import tax will be lowered to 33.72 percent of the total revenue after slashing it by 3.11 percentage point.

NBR officials said they are also going to lower the cost of collecting revenue. In FY 2009-10, Tk 0.74 was spent for collecting Tk 100 in revenue on an average but in the next FY, the cost will be lowered to Tk 0.70.

Revenue earning was more than the target in the first nine months of the current FY, said the NBR officials.

The finance minister has said the target may be increased by Tk 1,000 crore in the revised budget.

The officials said one of the main causes for the increase in revenue earning in this FY is high prices of commodities both in the domestic and international markets, and for this Vat, import tax and supplementary duty shot up.

Besides, a number of measures were taken to increase revenue earning. In some cases, tax rate was enhanced, sources said.

NBR officials said high inflation will continue in the next FY, which will normally increase revenue income. Alongside NBR is going to be automated, and new Vat and income tax laws introduced. All this will contribute to higher revenue collection.

They mentioned that there will be no change in import duty structure in the next FY. Possibility of imposing new tax except on cigarette and tobacco is very slim.

In the current FY, a survey has been conducted in some areas to find new tax payers, and in the next FY, more areas will be covered.

The central intelligence cell (CIC) will be strengthened to check tax evasion.

In the next budget, special focus will be given on raising non-tax revenue, the finance minister said.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Interest rate of savings instruments may go up

Interest rate of savings instruments may go up by 0.5 to 1 percent in the next fiscal year, as their sale dropped by over 60 percent in the current fiscal year.

The issue was discussed at a meeting between Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Finance Division and Savings Directorate at the central bank in the capital yesterday.

Chaired by Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui, the meeting agreed in principle on the matter, and it will be finalised later this week, meeting sources said.

The interest rate of different savings instruments was cut by 1 to 1.5 percent in the current fiscal year.

Following the slash, the net sale fell by about 65 percent in the first eight months of the current financial year.

At present four types of savings instruments are in the market -- Paribar Sanchaypatra, Pensioner Sanchaypatra, five-year term Sanchaypatra and three-year term Sanchaypatra.

In the current budget, the interest rate on Paribar Sanchaypatra was fixed at 11.04 percent while 10 percent on three-year term Sanchaypatra.

In addition, 10 percent tax was imposed on their profit. The tax may be brought down to five percent.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

Natore Jubo League activist shot dead

A Jubo League activist was shot dead in the town's Kanaikhali area last night allegedly by members of a rival faction.

The deceased is Rasu, 28, son of Abdur Rouf Noni.

Some four to five miscreants, led by Afzal, abducted him from Kanaikhali area yesterday morning and shot him in the head around 10:00pm, claimed Shariful Islam Ramzan, president of district unit JL.

Hearing his scream people rushed him to Natore Sadar Hospital where the doctors declared him dead, he added.

Shafikul Islam Shimul, secretary of Natore district JL and also the chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad, said assailants shot secretary of the town JL unit Afzal Hossain on Thursday.

Rasu is one of the accused in a case filed in connection with the shooting incident.

Denying the allegation against Afzal, Shimul insisted Afzal was at Rajshahi Medical Collage Hospital for collecting a medical certificate of his treatment when Rasu was killed.

Police arrested Sabbir Hossain, Ripon Ali, Goutam, Shohrab and Subash for interrogation.

Nasirul Islam, additional superintendent of Natore police, said they suspect internal feud of JL led to the killing.

Additional police have been deployed in the town to maintain peace, added Nasirul.

No case was filed regarding the murder till filing of this report at 11:30pm.

Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)

3 lakh Bangladesh workers in Malaysia to get MRP

The government yesterday decided to issue over three lakh machine readable passports (MRP) to the undocumented Bangladeshis in Malaysia to help expedite their regularisation process.


Following Malaysia's decision to regularise undocumented foreign workers, including around three lakh Bangladeshis, an inter-ministerial meeting was held at the home ministry.
Chaired by Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, the meeting was attended by officials of various ministries, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia and the Department of Immigration and Passport.
Malaysia's decision has not been officially announced yet, but diplomatic missions of countries of foreign workers were notified of it last week.
"We will take a crash programme to issue the MRPs which is the best way to enhance our image abroad," Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan told The Daily Star.
"We shall send additional staff to Malaysia by June 15, to do the job," Zafar said.
Other ministries including the expatriates' welfare and foreign affairs and home minister will extend all required assistance, the secretary said.
Director-General of the Department of Passports Abdul Mabud said there are no exact figures regarding the number of passports required.
"However, we will issue around four lakh MRPs," he said, adding, "We have adequate capacity, but would appoint locals from Malaysia, if required."
The process will start shortly and will be completed in three months, sources said.
Mantu Kumar Biswas, labour counsellor at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, said the undocumented workers willing to get regularised will have to provide their biometric features for registration.
Currently, there are around five lakh Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia. Malpractices led to a ban on recruitment early 2009 and many Bangladeshi workers became undocumented.
Failing to return home for not having job or travel documents, they have been facing threats of arrest and deportation.
Source: The Daily Star (May 24, 2011)